PMATH 965Topics in Geometry and Topology
- Units
- 0.50
- Level
- Graduate
- Faculty
- Mathematics
- Subject
- Pure Mathematics
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 5 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Consult the schedule of classes for specific topics being offered.
Prerequisites
None listed.
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 6789 | 10 / 30 | MWF 13:00–13:50 |
| LEC 002 | 6792 | 7 / 30 | TTh 09:00–10:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
100% liked it63% easy100% useful
From 2 ratings and 2 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
topic: harmonic maps with Spiro Karigiannis.
started with a crash course in riemannian geometry (plus some complex geometry and calibrated geometry). then did a lot in harmonic map theory: basic definitions, examples, stability, stress-energy tensor, relationship to hodge theory, applications to complex geometry (mostly kaehler but some just hermitian), some novel stuff in smith maps (last 15 years), then ended with harmonic map heat flow. all-in-all more on the analytic side, though spiro spared us a lot of the functional analysis pain. great to practice both riemannian geometry and learn new things.Apr 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Topic: Gauge Theory - Very good course
Jan 2020 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
7 posts and comments in 6 threads mention PMATH 965, August 2018 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Fall 2022
STAT 902 Undergraduate? 1 point, 11 comments
“Has anyone ever taken STAT 902 as an undergraduate before? What do the instructor usually ask as a prerequisite for the course? …”
u/asdfg_lkjh: “Idts if you're allowed to take 9xx courses as an undergrad”
u/blank_anonymous: “You're allowed to - I've taken pmath 950 and 965, and I have friends who have done stat 901. You need permission of the professor, and the academic advisor. …”
Winter 2021
What course teaches Gauge Theory? 1 point, 5 comments
u/tyjesus: “PMATH 965”
u/Paul_A_M_Dirac1: “Are you interested in pmath gauge theory or physics? If its pmath then 965 teaches gauge theory”
u/yet_another_lemma: “… But it's definitely doable; I took PMATH 965 twice in undergrad and neither time was gauge theory, but it would've been possible for me to do so had it been offered.”
Spring 2020
Fuck this bird course bullshit: what is the theoretical hardest term you could do? 49 points, 27 comments
“You're limited to a maximum of 5 classes, you're only allowed to do courses that would be allowed for the program/major you pick. …”
u/cabbagemeister: “… PHYS476 (General Relativity) AMATH474 (Quantum Theory 3) PMATH467 (Algebraic Topology) PMATH965 (Symplectic Geometry) The winter will definitely be harder, and I think constitutes one of the hardest terms a math phys major can do. …”
Fall 2018
math 245/247/249 5 points, 9 comments
“how smart do u have to be to take these courses”
[deleted]: “247 is ez 249 is kinda hard 245 is very hard ymmv based on professors. i had nica, yeats, karigiannis respectively”
u/mathlord1337: “Would you recommend pmath 965 in winter with him?”
Math Faculty 1 point, 7 comments
u/spectral_theorem: “… e.g., next term there's Lie groups/algebras, C-algebras, and some differential geometry (PMATH 863, 950, 965) I guess a concrete benefit of having a math faculty is that some profs may be into that sort of thing at an admin level; as a consequence a lot of the math profs you'll …”
Spring 2018
Pmath 965 0 points, 1 comment
u/ErasmusNOTOmnius: “Anyone have a course outline for Pmath 965? Is it possible to sit in the lectures? How long does the professor usually take to respond to emails?”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Graduate Calendar, Fall 2026The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them